Oakland Athletics vs. Minnesota Twins Prediction, Preview, Picks & Odds - 5/7/2022

Time: 2:10 p.m. ET

Venue: Target Field, Minneapolis, MN

Where to watch: NBC Sports Bay Area, Bally Sports North

DraftKings: Check back later

BetMGM: Check back later

Caesars: Check back later

Athletics: 10-16

Twins: 16-11

So when do we start calling them the Las Vegas Athletics? The move has to happen at some point, right? It's only a matter of time before the city of Oakland realizes they don't deserve to watch such an atrocity anymore.

This is the downside to playing 162 games. You have to endure for longer periods of time knowing that at some point, they may get to enjoy the fact that the professional baseball players may not have to play in that sewage stadium anymore.

Imagine Kyler Murray decides to return to baseball and gets to play in Las Vegas instead of football. How hilarious would that be? Not as hilarious as the Minnesota Twins winning a bunch of games right now and establishing their own pace in the American League Central. The two will continue their series on Saturday in Target Field.

The Twins are coming off a 2-1 win over the A's in which the future took over in this fun game. Royce Lewis, the top prospect in the Twins' system, recorded his first big-league hit, and Jose Miranda (No. 3 in the Twins' system) hit a homer to get the win. Byron Buxton even went yard to put a feather in that cap.

“We grew up [together] as young guys coming up, and we’re just here to help these guys that are veterans who have been doing it for a long time,” Lewis said. “Hopefully the new wave comes on, and that’ll be us one day.”

Josh Winder, the No. 6 prospect in Minnesota, continued his hot start with no runs allowed in 12 innings. He went six innings and the only damage he gave up was a sacrifice fly.

“We’re a month into the season and we’ve had some really good pitching outings,” acting manager Jayce Tingler said. “The one Winder threw tonight may have been the best. And I mean that with all due respect to some of the good games that have been thrown.”

But there might not have been anybody more excited with Lewis getting on base for the first time in the eighth inning.

"I just think that the crowd had a little bit of know-all of what's going on, and I really appreciated it, that's for sure,” Lewis said. “It made me really nervous. I didn't know if I should take off my helmet or not. It felt like someone's 3,000th hit.”

You know who wasn't in a good mood? The A's, likely because the minor-league team continues to outdo them in attendance. Nevertheless, Zach Logue gave them a chance in his first major league start.  He walked five, but stuck out five.

“I thought Logue did well,” said A’s manager Mark Kotsay. “Good execution of his pitches. Maybe trying to be a little too fine early and missing location. But he showed some grit getting out of jams and limiting damage. Getting through five innings, that was well done.”

“I call it a cutter and it kind of morphs into a slider sometimes,” Logue said. “I’m pretty confident in that pitch. It’s usually pretty effective against righties, so I like to attack them with that. I was able to get some good swing-and-misses with that.”

Not really sure we should trust the A's to win many more this season. They're really just coasting at this point with no talent. It wouldn't shock me to see them go into the prospect pool soon. Meanwhile, the Twins are on the verge of a breakout. Might as well be now. Twins win 7-1

Athletics are 64-59 on the road the past three seasons.

Athletics are 6-12 this season against right-handed starters.

Twins are 8-6 against right-handed starters this season.

Athletics:
Sheldon Neuse (R) 1B
Jed Lowrie (S) DH
Sean Murphy (R) C
Stephen Piscotty (R) RF
Chad Pinder (R) LF
Kevin Smith (R) 3B
Elvis Andrus (R) SS
Cristian Pache (R) CF
Tony Kemp (L) 2B
SP - James Kaprielian

Twins:
Cedric Mullins (L) CF
Trey Mancini (R) DH
Anthony Santander (S) RF
Austin Hays (R) LF
Ryan Mountcastle (R) 1B
Rougned Odor (L) 2B
Ramon Urias (R) 3B
Robinson Chirinos (R) C
Jorge Mateo (R) SS
SP - Sonny Gray

Batting average: Sheldon Neuse -- .310

Hits: Sheldon Neuse -- 26

Home runs: Sean Murphy -- 4

RBI: Sean Murphy -- 15

Wins: Paul Blackburn -- 3

Saves: Dany Jimenez -- 4

ERA: Cole Irvin -- 2.93

Batting average: Byron Buxton -- .290

Hits: Carlos Correa -- 24

Home runs: Byron Buxton -- 9 

RBI: Jorge Polanco -- 14

Wins: Two tied -- 3

Saves: Emilio Pagan -- 3

ERA: Joe Ryan -- 1.63